AI ZONE International AI Film Festival is offering $500 cash and global exposure for the best AI-generated short film by 30 November 2026
Now in its second edition, the AI ZONE festival screens exclusively AI-generated cinema online on 15 January 2027, with a $500 Grand Prize for the selected Best AI Mini Movie.
The AI ZONE International AI Film Festival returns for its second edition with a straightforward proposition: submit an AI-generated film, compete for a $500 cash Grand Prize, and have your work screened and promoted across the AI ZONE platform on 15 January 2027. The festival operates entirely online, welcomes entries from any country, and places no restrictions on which AI tools you use to make your film.
The competition sits within a growing calendar of AI cinema festivals, but AI ZONE's exclusive focus on fully AI-generated work gives it a distinct identity. The Grand Prize winner receives the cash award alongside official laurels and promotion across the AI ZONE network, in exchange for agreeing to non-exclusive publication of the film on the platform. Non-exclusive means you retain the right to show and distribute your work elsewhere, which is worth noting before you enter.
What to submit
The festival accepts short film, experimental, and animation works produced using AI tools. No specific runtime or resolution requirements are listed on the aggregator page; the full technical specifications, including any minimum length, aspect ratio, or format requirements, are detailed on the FilmFreeway listing, which is where submissions are processed. Any AI toolset is permitted, and the competition is open internationally with no stated residency restrictions.
Prize structure
The headline award is the $500 cash Grand Prize for Best AI Mini Movie. Winners also receive official festival laurels and promotion across the AI ZONE network. The prize is contingent on the winning filmmaker agreeing to non-exclusive publication of the film on the AI Zone platform. Beyond the Grand Prize, the page references official laurels as a separate recognition, suggesting additional category awards may exist, though the full category breakdown is on FilmFreeway.
Entry fee
The official page notes "See FilmFreeway listing" for entry fee information. This means a submission fee may apply, and the amount will vary depending on whether you submit under an early, regular, or late deadline tier. Check the FilmFreeway listing before budgeting for entry.
Terms worth reading
The non-exclusive publication clause attached to the Grand Prize is the main rights consideration here. Non-exclusive publication means AI ZONE can host and promote the winning film on its platform, but you are not signing away exclusive distribution rights and can continue to publish the work wherever you choose. This is a creator-friendly arrangement compared with competitions that demand exclusive licences. No broader rights grab is described on the page. IP appears to remain with the filmmaker.
The festival is described as being in its second edition, which gives some confidence that the event has run before, though independent verification of the organiser's track record is advisable before submitting. The aggregator page was last verified against the organiser's official page on 8 September 2026.
Deadline and festival date
The regular submission deadline is 30 November 2026. No cutoff time or timezone is published, so submit with at least a day to spare to account for any platform processing delays. The online festival screening takes place on 15 January 2027.
Submit via the official FilmFreeway listing, where you will also find the full rules, technical requirements, and current entry fee tiers.
Source: AI ZONE International AI Film Festival 2026 on AI Film Contests